The Most Reverend William G. Curlin, bishop of the 46-county
Diocese of Charlotte today issued the following statement in response to the
senate vote on the partial-birth abortion veto:

I am gravely disappointed by the action of some members of
the U.S Senate in their bold defense of the partial-birth abortion act. These
elected officials have turned their backs upon humanity, ignored the voices of
their constituency, and proceeded to endorse the most inhumane procedure of our
generation.

Tragically, some senators and representatives have been
falsely led to believe that partial-birth abortion is necessary to preserve a
woman's life. Yet, this flies in the face of reality. Obstetricians,
gynecologists and perinatologists are emphatic in their denunciation of the
partial-birth abortion by stating this procedure is never necessary to save a
woman's life, health or fertility. Former Surgeon General Dr. C. Everett Koop
has stated publicly that this procedure is never medically necessary and
charitably suggested that President Clinton was misinformed by his medical
advisors. As leaders in the field of medicine have testified, such a horrendous
procedure poses its own risk to a woman's health and fertility.

I plead with all women and men who seek to defend the
sanctity of life, to raise their voices in protest against this action. Seventy
one percent of Americans say they oppose partial-birth abortions, including 65
percent of those who call themselves prochoice. Regrettably, 40 senators did not
take this into account. We deserve better representation than this.

The issue of partial-birth abortion is of such weight that
people should keep this in mind when they choose their representatives. We
cannot and dare not let our country continue on a path of ever increasing
disregard for the sanctity of life.

The partial-birth abortion act is infanticide. It is time for
us to speak up in defense of the truth.